Ourhome Launches Food Safety Center... Focusing on Supplying Safe Food

Strengthening Management of the Entire Food Supply Process
Recognition of Inspection Capabilities of Food Safety Center Analysis Research Team

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] Comprehensive food company Ourhome is focusing its entire capabilities on "supplying safe and fresh food."

Ourhome announced on the 4th that it has launched a Food Safety Center within its Food Research Institute. This is to build a more advanced integrated safety management system by integrating the analysis research, safety, and hygiene management teams, which were previously operated separately in three teams, to promote organic collaboration between departments. Ourhome's Food Safety Center is responsible for hygiene and safety management of over 850 in-house cafeterias nationwide and 22 manufacturing and logistics facilities. At the same time, it is also in charge of quality and hygiene management of all ingredients produced, purchased, and distributed by Ourhome.

Ourhome Food Safety Center conducts food and facility quality, hygiene, and safety management in compliance with relevant laws and regulations and according to diagnostic checklists established under strict internal standards. The checklist is shared with purchasing suppliers and client companies, aiming for "zero hygiene and safety accidents" across the volume of handled goods and facilities.

The analysis research team of Ourhome Food Safety Center was designated as a radiation testing and inspection institution by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in April. As consumer anxiety about radiation levels in food increased, the Ministry strengthened radiation standards for food. Subsequently, last month, Ourhome became the first in the group catering and ingredient industry to receive certification as an agricultural product safety inspection institution from the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service. With this, Ourhome can conduct official tests for food radiation levels as well as inspections for residual pesticides and heavy metals in agricultural products, playing a role in preventing the distribution of non-compliant products in the market. Additionally, it has established a thorough safety verification system for supplying safe food, including livestock product testing, rice and brown rice grading, and norovirus testing.

Efforts are also being made to secure food safety system certifications. Through global food safety system certifications such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Food Safety System Certification (FSSC22000), Halal certification mark, and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Ourhome is securing food safety competitiveness. In the case of HACCP certification, 100% certification has been achieved for eight factories, securing international credibility and reliability.

On-site inspections are conducted regularly targeting over 550 primary suppliers with direct transactions, as well as in-house cafeterias, manufacturing, and logistics facilities. Hygiene inspections are conducted not only for offline stores but also for online malls. Recently, due to COVID-19, a non-face-to-face food safety evaluation system has been established to continuously verify remotely, and online lecture content has been developed in-house to educate all employees so that food safety becomes ingrained in the company culture.

An Ourhome official said, "We launched the Food Safety Center to alleviate consumer concerns about clean food and COVID-19 prevention, and to strengthen our position as a trustworthy food company," adding, "We will continue to strengthen the management system to contribute not only to our products but also to building a safe food environment in Korea."